Coventry City will be hosting ‘A Christmas Cracker with Charlie Nicholas, Phil Thompson and Paul Merson’ this December at the Ricoh Arena.

The former footballers, now popular Sky Sports regulars, will be our guests from 1pm to 4:30pm on Thursday 6th December in the Premier Lounge at the Ricoh Arena, where they will look back on their careers as well as discuss their present broadcasting roles.

Places are available to book for £55, or a VIP Package is available for £80, for the afternoon event ahead of Christmas.

Both packages include three course dining, while the VIP package includes a complimentary drink on arrival and access to an exclusive area prior to the event where guests can meet and mingle with the trio.

CCFC Season Ticket holders who book a standard package in the first 2 weeks of sale will be entered into a draw for 2 VIP packages for the event. Meanwhile, all CCFC Season Ticket holders will be entered into a draw for 2 free standard packages for the afternoon.

To book your place, call Coventry City on 02476 992 328 or book online from 10am on Tuesday 16th October - CLICK HERE!

All bookings are subject to a £1 booking fee per ticket plus postage.

Dave Boddy, Chief Executive at Coventry City, said: “We are delighted to announce this event on 6th December, which we we’re all really looking forward to. It’s bound to be a great afternoon, with entertaining anecdotes and a few laughs with some great personalities in the game.

“This is a further non-matchday event we are bringing to the Ricoh Arena, our third of the season already, as we look to continue to develop an exciting events calendar for both Sky Blues fans and the wider community to enjoy.”

About Charlie Nicholas:

Born in Glasgow, Scotland, Charlie Nicholas rose through the ranks at boyhood side Celtic. He would make 100 appearances for ‘The Bhoys’, winning two Scottish Premier Division titles and one Scottish League Cup, as well as being named PFA Player and Football Writers’ Player of the Year in 1983 and 1981 respectively.

In his final season for Celtic, Nicholas scored 48 goals in 53 appearances in all competitions, earning the attention from Arsenal, who signed the striker for £750,000 in 1983.

Spending just under five years with the Gunners, Charlie made almost 200 appearances, scoring over 50 goals, winning Arsenal Player of the Year in 1984 and the League Cup in 1987.

Aged 27, the Scot returned back up north, signing for Aberdeen during January of 1988 and he would spend the next three seasons with ‘The Dons’.

Nicholas won the Scottish Cup and Scottish League Cup with Aberdeen, before returning back to where it all started in 1990, as he re-joined Celtic, spending the next five years, before a final season at Clyde before announcing his retirement.

In total, Charlie made just under 600 career appearances and scored over 220 goals, as well as 20 caps for Scotland, scoring five goals.

About Phil Thompson:

Former England and Liverpool defender, Phil Thompson won everything there was to win in domestic football during his time with The Reds.

Seven League titles, three European Cups, two UEFA and Football League cups and one European Super Cup and FA Cup, making him one of the most decorated players in Liverpool’s history.

Born in Merseyside, the Liverpool supporter signed for his beloved Reds back in January 1971, the day after his 17th birthday.

The centre-back would go on to spend 14 years at Anfield, making just shy of 500 appearances before spending two seasons with Sheffield United. Thompson also earned 42 caps for England.

During his time with The Reds, he would go on to forge partnerships at the heart of the defence alongside the likes of Alan Hansen, Mark Lawrenson and Emlyn Hughes, as well as being named club captain in 1980.

Phil retired at the relatively early age of 31, taking up a role as Coach at Liverpool under then manager Kenny Dalglish, spending several years as part of the backroom staff, before departing in 1992, only to re-join back in 1998 as Assistant Manager to Gerard Houllier.

Thompson spent a further six years at Liverpool as number two to Houllier, playing his part in the Reds treble winning campaign of 2001.

About Paul Merson:

Born in North West London, Paul Merson progressed through the Academy at Arsenal, before breaking into the first team following a successful loan spell at Brentford.

Merson established himself as a regular in George Graham’s successful Arsenal side of the early 1990’s, winning two League titles and one FA Cup, League Cup and European Cup Winners’ Cup.

The attacking midfielder spent over fifteen years with the Gunners, where he would also feature 21 times for England, representing the Three Lions at the 1992 Euros and 1998 World Cup.

Paul had a brief spell at Middlesbrough after departing Highbury for the Boro, however after helping to guide the club back into the Premier League, the midfielder moved back down South and joined Aston Villa for £6.75 million in 1998.

Merse made over 100 appearances whilst at Villa Park, in which during his time was pivotal in guiding the club to the 2000 FA Cup final, as well as winning the Inter Toto Cup in 2001.

The midfielder again dropped down to England’s second tier and again was instrumental in helping a side win promotion to the Premier League, as Portsmouth won the First Division title in 2003.

Merson then joined Walsall and became player-manager in 2004, spending two seasons with the Saddlers, before a brief spell at Tamworth, where he would announce his retirement from football, having made over 600 career appearances.